Lung Cancer Alliance Praises New Supporters Joining Call To Action For A More Comprehensive Federal Strategy To Address Lung Cancer

WASHINGTON, DC [April 8, 2010] -- Today, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) announced new additions to the growing list of supporters joining LCA in its “call to action” to devise a better public health strategy to address the nation’s most lethal cancer.

The new national organizations and medical institutions include:

Friends of Cancer ResearchSociety for Women’s Health ResearchNational Medical AssociationMen’s Health NetworkWinship Cancer Institute of Emory UniversityAbramson Cancer Center of the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Minnesota Center for Lung Science and Health and Cancer CenterSmiley Cancer Hospital at Yale-New HavenThe University of KentuckyJames Graham Brown Cancer Center at The University of LouisvilleWellstar Health System

These entities join an already established list of diverse and highly regarded national medical associations and institutions, veterans and minority health organizations, and advocacy groups who also have voiced their strong concerns about lung cancer lethality, its impact upon their respective stakeholders and the need to devise a more comprehensive plan of action to address all aspects of the disease.

“This continues to be an extremely important and purposeful development in our effort to devise a more comprehensive and compassionate federal response to the number one cause of cancer”, said Laurie Fenton-Ambrose, LCA President & CEO. “We are honored to stand beside these nationally and internationally respected voices. We are excited to draw upon their expert advice and leadership. And we hope to encourage more to join our efforts.”

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. This year alone it will claim over 160,000 lives -- more than the combined total deaths from breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancers. It is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women and among every ethnic group.

Military men and women are at an elevated risk of lung cancer as compared to the civilian population. Lung cancer has a 15% five year survival rate. Two out of every three lung cancer patients are former and non-smokers. Over the next 20 years, the number of cancer cases particularly in older and minority individuals is expected to vastly increase with lung cancer among those with the greatest relative increase in incidence. Yet lung cancer research funding lags significantly behind other major diseases.

The Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2009, introduced in both the United States Senate (S. 332) and House of Representatives (HR 2112), is first-ever authorizing legislation to declare lung cancer a national public health priority and require a coordinated and comprehensive federal response to address all aspects of the lethal disease. For more information about the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act go to www.lungcanceralliance.org.

Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) is the only national organization dedicated solely to providing patient support and advocacy to all those living with or at risk for lung cancer.